Fresh Air

The other day Ellis and I were at Target. I'll give you a couple of seconds to recover from your shock.
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We were checking out and I noticed a red splotch of sorts on E's cheek. I leaned down to inspect and asked her what happened to her face.

Without hesitating she responded with, "My mommy hurt me and then I cried."

What?!!

Awkward laugh and then, "Ellis, that's a bug bite!" Pleasedon'tcallchildservicesIhaveneverhurtmydaughter.

I was a little taken aback that Ellis lied about me to a stranger on a split second's notice. Then Gabe reminded me that a day or two before I had been buckling Ellis into her car seat when my hand slipped and my thumb nail jabbed her chin (she bled). And although her response in that moment was to freak out and cry, "Mama! You don't need to hurt me!" over and over as if I'd done it on purpose, making me feel terrible...I was glad to have a logical explanation for why, when asked what happened to her face, Ellis thought I was referring to that day...when I really did hurt her...accidentally.

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I rolled my window down while Ellis and I were driving somewhere the other day and she asked me what I was getting. Ummm...I'm not getting anything, I just rolled my window down. NO! What are you getting?? I didn't get anything, I just rolled my window down... "No Mama, you're getting fresh air!!

Touche.

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